Sectional channel closure means



Aug. 15, 1944. a J. N. BLANK 2,

SECTIONA L CHANNEL CLOSURE MEANS Filed Feb. 1'7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV on Jose zkM Blank.

Aug. 15,1944. J, BLANK SECTIONAL CHANNEL CLOSURE MEANS Patented Aug. 15, 1944 OFFICE SEGTIONAL CHANNEL CLOSURE MEANS Joseph- N--. Blank; Newport, Ky., assi'gnor to The Wadsworth: Electric Manufacturing Company, Covington',.Ky., a. corporation of: Kentucky Application February 17, 1 9'41, S'erial1No. 379,165

4': Claims.

This application is a continuation in. part of myco-pending application Serial No.. 283,688, filed. June 7,. 1928, which, has. matured. into. Patent No. 2,236,787,. datedv April 1, 1941..

The invention relates to. closable members for use in electrical. installations such as wiring, race.- ways and particularly to. sectional closures. or covers therefor.

An object of the. invention is to. provide. an arrangement of continuousrwiring. raceway structure with sectionallyremovable closure covers or lids. and cooperating securing elements, on the raceway and the. cover, that are concealed interiorly of theclosed raceway and are engageable and disengageable: by longitudinal movement of a lid on the raceway.

Another object ofthe invention is: to provide such a structure with self-contained means to enable facile attachment or removal of the covers without the use of tools; and. further, to provide for the alhxing. of a seal exteriorly of the. closed raceway whereby unauthorized manipulation of the closures without breaking the seal is. prevented.

Still another objectof the invention is toprovide for the overlap. of adjacent ends of adjacent closure coversiin suchzmanner as to preclude insertion of a wire or-instrument into the raceway at. the junction of adjacent covers.

A further object of the invention. is to provide, in a; structure, of the character described, for tight and foolproof closure; of. wiring raceways and to provide embodiments of? the structure which may in some instances" utilize. a. seal: on the endmost cover ot a connected series of covers: to preclude manipulation or removal; of the covers preceding it in the-series.

These and other objects are attained: by the means described herein and disclosed? in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l isa perspective viewof a casing-orphannel embodying. one of the complementarysecuring' elements: of the invention.

Fig; 2 is a. perspective view of a; closure for the casing of Fig. I embodying the other of the complementary securing elements, said closure shown inverted and turned endwise through 180 to the casing on-Fig: 1-.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modified channel or casing of the invention.

Fig. 4 is aperspective view of aclosure for the channel or casing of'Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a. perspectiveview of another modified form of the casing of the invention.

Fig. 'Tis a perspective view of the closurem-embet for the casing. of Fig; 6.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional: view showing channels of Fig. 4* and their covers operatively connected. as a wiring racewamparts being broken away.

Fig. 9, is. av longitudinal sectional view showing channels of Fig. 6 and their covers operatively connected as awiring raceway, parts being broken away- Fig. 10 is. a cross-sectional View taken on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 1.1 is a cross-sectional view taken online Il.ll of Fig..9.-

, The. closable channels or casings of the invention are adapted for use in various electrical installations such, as are shown and suggested in my co-pending application Serial No. 283,688, now PatentNo. 2,236,787. The channel of Fig. 1 is shown with its. sidewalls adapted for various connections with electrical cabinets. or other channels, while the channelsof Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 are shown without sidewall openings or knockouts. It is. to be understood that insofar as the present. invention is concerned the channel sidewalls in all the illustrated embodiments may be adapted and arranged. in any selected, manner for connection with electrical cabinets if desired. or required.

The. invention consists generally inthe provision of channel bases and closures therefor with complementary securing means on both members so related as to be concealed when the channels are. closed, and the securing means are engageable and disengageable by proper manipulation of the closures without the use of tools. The

closures are furthermore arranged for overlapping at. the ends to preclude the'insertion of an instrument, thus preventing the theft of current from wires or apparatus within the properly closed channels or raceways. The closure covers are each adapted for the reception of a seal to prevent surreptitious removal of the covers and the removal of the covers and the relationship of the. securing means and the overlapping portions of the covers may be designed, as hereinafter fullyexplained, topermit the use of a. single seal on: the endmost of a series of covers to prevent the removal of anyof. the. covers in a series.

Referring now'tothe drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 show the channel base II and cover 12, respectively; as disclosed. in my co-pending application Serial No. 283,688, now Patent No. 2,236,787. The channel and cover are formed sheet metal members- The channels H are arranged with sidewalls l3 and M extending from the sides of bottom wall 15 to provide an open ended channel adapted for end to end communicating connection by inwardly offset flange portions l6 and I! on the sidewalls and adjacent portions of the bottom walls. These flanges fit into the open ends of similar channels and they are fastened byscrewswhich bind. the overlapping, parts together.

the inside faces of sidewalls l3 and I4 when the cover is in place.

On one end of cover I 2 is an inwardly offset flange which enters beneath the opposite end of a similar cover to eliminate any open joints in a series of covers. securing means for the cover (as hereinafter described) is located on the inner face of the cover relatively close to the projecting flange 20 in order to permit any one of a series of covers to be removed from its associated channel Without shifting or otherwise disturbing an adjacent overlapping cover.

The complementary securing means in this embodiment comprise lugs 2| struck inwardly from sidewalls |3 and M of the channel base and cooperating lugs 22 having each a way or slot 23 therein disposed on the inner face of cover l2. The sides of the slots are inclined to permit engagement and disengagement of lugs 2| by slightly inclining the overlapping end of the cover while moving it lengthwise of the channel. The V-shaped depressions in the cover adjacent the overlapping cover receive bonding screws that may be passed through screw holes 25 in the channel sidewalls l3 and I4, as explained in my copending application.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 8, channel members 26 are of formed sheet metal with parallel sidewalls 21 having inverted T- shaped notches 28 cut near opposite ends of their top free edges to form lugs 28!] disposed in the planes of the sidewalls 21.

The cover 29 has downturned flanges 30 from which inwardly struck lugs 3| extend to provide internally disposed ways or slots 3H] into which the lugs 280 may pass when the cover is seated on the channel and moved endwise. The lug 3| must be entered into the mouth of notch 28 in order to position the complementary securing means for cooperative action. I prefer to make the lower edge 33 of each lug 280 with a slight taper to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the securing means and to assure a snug binding of the cover on the channel. The ends 32 of notch 28 afford, in effect, two of the lugs 28!] extending in opposite directions.

The cover 29 has a downwardly offset flange 34 at one end which is adapted to enter below and to be overlapped by a relatively opposite end of a similar cover. The lugs 280 entering ways 3|0 on the end of the cover remote from flange 34 prevents the possibility of lifting the overlap ping end of the cover directly upwardly from a properly seated position without first shifting the cover lengthwiseuntil lug 3| is disposed in registry with the mouth of notch 28. At this time flange 34 would also be withdrawn from beneath an overlapping end of an adjacent cover. The shoulder 35 at the junction of flange 34 with the cover must be slidably retracted from the substantial abutment with the end of the preceding cover in a series before said preceding cover can be slidably shifted to release the complementary concealed securing means.

The duplication of the complementary securing means at eachend of said channels and covers permit the installation of covers. on the channels beginning at either the right hand end In this embodiment theor left hand end of a raceway as circumstances may require. The duplication of lugs 280 permitsthecovers to be heldin a retracted position without necessity of removal or danger of dropping off of the channels when a number of covers are required to be retracted to enable an intermediate cover in a series to be removed.

The duplication of lugs 3| at each end provides additional rigidity to the connection between the channels and their covers. Successive channels 26, of Figs. 3 and 8, are adapted to be connected at their ends by interiorly dis posed angle brackets 31 which are drilled to receive screws 38 which extend into threaded bores 39 at the ends of the channels.

The top of each cover 29 is slitted and depressed to form the V-shapeddepressions 40. The edge of the slit which is depressed into V-shape serves as an abutment for the inside of the channel sidewalls 21 when the cover is seated. Depressions 40 are disposed relatively close to lugs 3| so that when the cover is in position on the channel, said depressions will support the sidewalls 27 against external pressure exerted near the notch 23. A seal wire 4| may be passed through a hole 42 in flange 30 and a registering hole 43 in the sidewall 21 and brought out through the open top of-depression 40. For the reasons previously explained, the seal 4| needs only to be applied to the endmost of a succession of covers. Bores 420 and 42| may also be provided in the flange and channel wall closely adjacent bores 42 and 43, if desired, for the reception of'a screw as a precautionary electrical bond between the cover and its associated channel member.

A simple flanged end cap 44 is secured in the terminal end of a seriesof channels, while an angle bracket 31 may be used to fasten the end of the first channel within a, suitable cabinet or housing 45 from which electrical wiring (not shown) is to be taken. Any suitable knockouts or communicating openings (not shown) may be provided in sidewalls 21. They form no particular part of the invention herein claimed and the showing thereof is omittedexcept in Figs. 1 and 2.

Reference is now made to Figs, 6 and 7 wherein the channel 46 has the sidewalls 41 slitted downwardly from the top edges to provide lugs 48, disposed in spaced, substantially parallel relation to the inner faces of sidewalls 41, connected by integral portion 49. I also provide a stop lug 58 which is struck integrally from the material of the sidewall. The cover 5| has secured to its inner face near one end the complementary securing members 52 which are curved at the end to form slots or grooves 53 into which the lugs 48 may enter upon relative longitudinal movement of the properly seated cover on its channel member. Members 52 have angularly disposed flanges 54 which are spot welded to the inner face of the cover, as shown in Fig. 10. The longitudinal cover flanges 55 which embrace the outside faces of channel walls 41 conceal the notches occasioned by the formation-of lugs 48 and 5D in said sidewalls. At the end of cover 5| opposite lugs 52 the metal is extended to form th inwardly offset flange 56 and a, pair of lugs'51'al1 of which slidably enter the relatively opposite end of asimilar closed channel. The channels 46 have the angle bracket members 58 secured to the inside faces of the channels and likewise project into the adjacent end of a connected channel. The angle brackets are shown attached-by screws 59 disposed from the inside- As shown in Fig. 9, the several channels thus connected form a continuous wiring raceway and the covers each have the flange 56 disposed beneath the end of a preceding similar cover or disposed within a cabinet 60 or the like at the beginnin of the wiring raceway. The terminal end of the raceway is closed by a simple flanged end cap 6| by means of screws 62 threaded into the bottom and sidewalls of the channel member from the inside.

The covers are first placed on the channels with members 52 beyond the lugs 48 whereupon the cover is slidably moved endwise allowing the lugs 48 to enter the open ends of the slots or ways 53 until the end stop 50 precludes further movement. Such movement seats the shoulder 63 in substantial abutment with the end of a similar cover and forms a foolproof connection between successive covers. The covers 5| are also provided with the inclined V-shaped depressions 64 and a seal wire 65 may be passed through the flange 55 and sidewall 51 in the manner heretofore explained in connection with Fig. 3. Provision for a bonding screw may be omitted in this case in view of the particularly snug securing of the cover to the channel by the cooperating means 52 and 48, but it will be understood that tapped and untapped holes (not shown) may be disposed in the relation shown at 420 and HI of Figs. 3 and 4.

The invention will be understood as not limited to the specific structures herein illustrated since they may be modified within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

The concealed complementary securing members on the channel and cover are engaged and disengaged by the proper manipulation of the covers on the channels in each of the modifications shown and described.

The channels, as will be well understood, are adapted to be mounted with their bottom; secured against a partition, building wall or the like, or wherever electrical installations may be conveniently disposed. The channels herein are shown with holes a: in the bottoms for the reception of screws or other fastening means for permanent mounting of the channels. The removable covers afford easy access to wiring or electrical apparatus housed within the channels and at the same time all such wiring and apparatus is protected against tampering or unauthorized access.

In the embodiments illustrated the overlapping ends of the cover members are in a common plane with the bodies of the covers in order to provide a relatively unbroken flat plane surface for the series of covers. If desired, the covers may be formed with the overlapping portion raised above the normal plane of the top of the cover and the underlapping end portion disposed in the plane of the cover instead of being inwardly ofiset. It should be understood that by disposing the concealed securing means adjacent the overlapping ends of the covers an entire series of covers may be controlled by the application of a single seal on the endmost cover of the series. In such an installation any preceding cover in the series is non-removable so long as the next succeeding cover is in proper position.

It will also be appreciated when the covers are formed with the concealed securing means adjacent the underlapping end of the cover, then any cover of the series may be independently removed without disturbing the adjoining covers, and if seals are desired they may be applied to each cover.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a plurality of channel members connected in end to end relation to form a continuous open topped raceway, means closing the ends of the raceway, removable cover members for the respective channel members, each cover member having a projecting ofiset end flange adapted to be overlapped by a relatively opposite end of an adjoining similar cover member, the raceway closing means at one end receiving the initial projecting end flange of a first cover member and retaining it against lifting directly off of its channel member, concealed cooperating securing means disposed interiorly of each cover and channel member respectively at the end remote from said offset end flange, said securing means providing a longitudinally extending way and a lug receivable therein on the respective members whereby each lug is entered into and removed from its receiving way only upon longitudinal movement of the cover member on the channel member, and means applied externally on the last cover member and its channel member to preclude movement of all of the cover members and thereby precluding releasing movement of all of the concealed securing means throughout the raceway.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a U-shaped channel having sidewalls, the walls notched adjacent an end to form lugs, a flanged cover having its flanges adapted to cover the notches in the channel wall, and means disposed inwardly of the flanges and forming openended ways adjacent the inner face of the cover for receiving the lugs on longitudinal movement of the cover on the channel and providing a concealed and exteriorly inaccessible securing means, the cover having V-shaped inclined depressions in the outer face thereof, each presenting a free edge to the inside face of a channel wall for supporting the channel wall, said channel walls and cover flanges having registering perforations for the reception of an externally applied means to preclude shifting of the cover on the channel.

3. In a closable channel structure the combination of a channel member having parallel sidewalls, lugs struck from said sidewalls and turned downwardly in spaced relation to the sidewalls within the channel member, a stop lug struck from the sidewall and extending transversely across the end of at least one of said first mentioned lugs, a cover for the channel member comprising flanges overhanging the outside faces of the channel walls, and means secured to the inside face of the cover providing ways aligned with the said lugs for slidable entry of the lugs therein upon longitudinal movement of the cover on the channel member.

4. In combination, a channel-shaped raceway, a series of cover members each having a projecting offset end flange, said covers adapted to be arranged in end-to-end overlapped and abutting relation for closing said raceway, securing means inside the raceway and on the inside of the respective cover members for slidably and detachably securing the covers successively to the raceway, and means to seal an'endmost cover in said series to preclude release of the securing means on preceding covers.

JOSEPH N. BLANK. 

